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June 1st
On this day in history in ....
1971 - Andre The Giant, under the name Jean Ferre, makes his North American wrestling debut in Quebec.
1978 - NWF Champion Antonio Inoki defeats WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund in a three fall match in Tokyo, Japan when Backlund was counted out in the first fall, and the one-hour time limit ran out during the second fall.
1988 - At a WWF television taping in Oakland, California, The Big Bossman makes his WWF television debut, defeating Louie Spicolli with the sidewalk slam. Also on the show, The Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty) makes their WWF television debut, defeated Iron Mike Sharpe & The Intruder.
1996 - ECW runs at the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia for an event nicknamed "Fight The Power" featuring the following results:
- Devon Storm defeated El Puerto Ricano with a top rope flipping Ace Crusher.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Mikey Whipwreck with a standing moonsault after interference by Brian Pillman. Pillman, in a wheelchair and swinging crutches as a result of an auto accident, cut a promo on several ECW stars, using a racial slang term at one point (which would result in New Jack confronting Pillman backstage), before leaving ringside. This would be Pillman's last appearance in ECW.
- The FBI (JT Smith & Little Guido) defeated The Dudleys (D-Von & Bubba Ray) via DQ when D-Von laid out everyone, including his own half-brothers, with a steel chair before leaving. Big Dick Dudley, making his return, entered through the front door of the arena, but D-Von was gone by the time he made it to the ring.
- Stevie Richards and Raven had an interview segment, with Richards saying he found a woman "slutty" enough to be with Raven. He introduced Devine Brown, the hooker who became famous for being caught with actor Hugh Grant, but Raven said she wasn't a big enough slut and walked off. - Taz defeated shootfighter Jason Helton with the Tazmission. Afterwards, former UFC fighter Paul Varleans, watching from the crowd, accepts a challenge from Taz, and the two have to be seperated by security.
- Tommy Dreamer & The Pitbulls defeated Brian Lee & The Bruise Brothers in an elimination match.
- ECW World Champion Raven defeated Pitbull #2. Pitbull #2 earned the title match by being the sole survivor of the elimination match.
- The Sandman defeated Stevie Richards by turning a figure four attempt into a small package. Prior to the match, Richards & The Blue Meanie came out as "Lord Steven Regal & The Earl Of Eating, The Blue-Meanie-Bloods) a spoof on WCW's Bluebloods tag team.
- The Gangstas gave an interview, with New Jack ripping on Brian Pillman and stating that ECW doesn't need WCW or WWF wrestlers coming into the company.
- ECW Television Champion Shane Douglas defeated El Puerto Ricano, Don E. Allen, Devon Storm, and Mikey Whipwreck in consecutive matches since his original opponent, 2 Cold Scorpio, was unable to wrestle due to illness. Douglas then hit Francine, the manager of the Pitbulls, leading to...
- Pitbull #2 defeated Shane Douglas to win the ECW Television Title with a superbomb as Shane attempted a belly to belly suplex off the ropes.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions The Eliminators defeated The Gangstas after the Samoan Gangsta Party attacked the Gangstas, leading to Total Elimination on both men before the pin.
1998 - At an edition of Raw from Chicago, Illinois, qualifying matches for the King Of the Ring Tournament are held with Marc Mero defeating Steve Blackman, Jeff Jarrett defeating Faarooq, and Mark Henry defeated Terry Funk in a match that saw Funk almost break his legs when his shins crashed on the steel guardrail as he attempted to moonsault a standing Henry on the floor. At that point in time, it was universally praised as the best match Mark Henry had ever been involved in.
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